CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Jeo

 

“Why are we the only two painting?”

Both of us shirtless and barefoot, Blaze and I moved our paint rollers up and down the walls of the warehouse, our movements almost in sync.

“Various reasons,” Blaze said. “Dante’s working on a case, Isaac’s sick, Axel’s helping Caleb with something, Tony’s with Nick, Cane’s working…” he went on, listing the whereabouts of club members as I rose on my toes to touch the roller to the tape running around the ceiling. It was high time we painted the warehouse interior, and, although I was bitching, I was secretly glad to be the only one to show up to help the bossman.

“You talk to Matteo lately?” Blaze asked unexpectedly.

“Just for two minutes when he and Tease returned my bike the other night. Why?”

Blaze let out a breath and bent to push his roller through the pan of white paint. Satin Silos White, to be exact.

“I’m a little worried about him.”

“Because…” I prompted.

Blaze glanced at me. “Didn’t you see Flynn at the barbecue?”

I frowned. Flynn? “Oh, you mean Nick’s friend?” Wait. I stopped painting and looked at Blaze. “You mean…was that…” I left off, the pieces connecting in my mind. “Was that Matteo’s Flynn?”

Blaze nodded and resumed painting.

“But I thought he moved to California!”

“So did we. Nobody expected him to show up at the barbecue, least of all Matteo. Matty wasn’t even supposed to be there, but his grandmother decided to skip the fireworks and go to bed early.”

“And they just ran into each other there? Wow.” I shook my head. That had to have been all kinds of awkward for both of them. No wonder Flynn had gone home early, and Matteo had left soon after.

“He hasn’t been around the clubhouse since,” Blaze said. “I’ve called him a couple times, but he just texted to say he was fine and then went back to radio silence.”

As I finished the corner I was working on, I thought about it. Matteo and Flynn had dated a long time. Almost three years. “I always thought those two were it for each other. I was shocked when they ended it.” I glanced at Blaze. “You know why they did?”

“Not my story to tell,” Blaze said.

I flicked paint at him. “Thanks for nothing, Bossman.”

“You’re welcome. And flick paint at me again, and I’ll rearrange your pretty face.”

I smirked. “I’d like to see you try.”

We worked companionably, only the radio and the smooth sound of the rollers moving over plaster filling the silence, until Blaze finally dropped his, stretched, and declared a lunch break.

I grabbed my T-shirt and pulled it over my head, following Blaze out into the bright, hot sunshine and across the yard to the clubhouse.

Inside, Adam sat at the kitchen table looking glum.

“What’s the matter, man?” I asked, opening the fridge and taking out two beers. I passed one to Blaze, who cast me a worried look behind Adam’s back.

“They let me go at work.”

“What?” I rounded the table to look at him. “Why the fuck did they do that?”

“Said they couldn’t risk my having a seizure and missing something on the security tape.”

“But…your seizures last only seconds,” Blaze said.

Adam shrugged and didn’t reply.

“It’s not the end of the world,” I said. “You didn’t really like working nights anyway. You can find something you like better.”

Adam tried to smile, but he looked upset. He stood and left the room, and Blaze and I gave him his space.

In case Adam could hear us, Blaze changed the subject.

“Nick’s back better?” I was pretty sure he’d asked me that when I’d arrived at the warehouse that morning, but I pretended he hadn’t.

Clearing my throat, I said, “Yeah. We might be able to get in a rehearsal before the night of the show. Man, Morgan did a crazy good job of getting sponsors. The place is gonna be packed.”

Blaze opened a bag of chips and took a few before passing the bag to me.

“That all you’re going to eat for lunch?” Lake asked, breezing into the room, bringing the floral scent of his cologne with him. He bent to kiss Blaze.

“Where are you off to?” Blaze asked, looking him over. Lake wore a pair of skinny jeans and a blue and white shirt that accentuated his lean body.

“To Stephen and Khan’s. I told you this. Invited you to come, in fact, but you said you had to paint.”

“Oh, yeah. Sorry. My mind’s occupied.”

“You heard about Adam’s job?” Lake had lowered his voice. “He’s in his room with the door closed,” he told us.

“I can’t believe those fuckers fired him,” Blaze said quietly. “Like he hasn’t felt shitty enough lately.”

“Maybe there’s something he can do at The Banana,” Lake said. “We’ll figure it out.” He kissed Blaze again. “Gotta go. I’ll help you paint tomorrow. I’m off. But I’m going in to work tonight straight from Khan’s.”

Blaze nodded. “Be careful.”

When Lake had left, I said, “You still don’t like him pole dancing, do you.”

“Not gonna lie. No. I don’t like those men hooting and howling at his practically naked body. He’s mine.”

“I imagine I’d feel the same if it was Nick. Lake doesn’t want to quit and do something else?”

Blaze smiled ruefully. “You know Lake. He’s extremely independent. I was lucky to get him to move in here with me. If I suggested he quit his job, he’d go through the roof.” He looked at me. “So, you and Nick really are getting serious?”

I chewed my lower lip. No point in trying to hide it. I was in it for the long haul with my boy. “Yeah.”

Blaze grinned. “I’m happy for you, man.”

“It’s weird. I mean, knowing this is it for me. That I’m not going to be with anyone else. But I don’t have any doubts.”

“Our little Jeo’s growing up.” Blaze tried to ruffle my hair, but I knocked his hand away. “Seriously, you’ve done a hell of a job turning yourself around this past year.”

“What can I say? When I decide to do something, I do it. I realize now it had a lot to do with Nick. I couldn’t stand him looking at me the way he did back then. So, I guess I really have you to thank, since you’re the one who appointed him my personal assistant.” I pretended to give Blaze a reproachful look, and he laughed.

“You needed that, man. Nick got you where you needed to be. I think the two of you complement each other. Nick needs you as much as you need him.”

I frowned. “How do you mean?”

Blaze shrugged. “He’s always seemed a lot like a loose cannon to me. He hides behind that flirtatious manner, acts all tough when he’s anything but. Am I wrong?”

I shook my head. “No. But I’m not sure what I do for him.”

Blaze finished his beer and wiped his mouth on his arm. “My guess is you make him feel safe. Secure. While still managing to stroke his ego and give him what he needs in the bedroom.”

I couldn’t help scowling. “And what would you know about that?”

“Down, boy.” Blaze held up his hands, palms out. “Only what I’ve surmised with my incredibly astute skills of observation. Nick needed someone to handle him, which is evident by the fact he chooses to have a Daddy. Only I guess Royce’s method wasn’t doing it for him.”

I settled back in my chair and took another pull from my beer bottle. I missed cigarettes, but I hadn’t smoked one in weeks, and I wasn’t going back to them. I thought about how, the past couple of weeks while Nick was recuperating, he’d seemed more and more settled. We’d watched movies, played games, sat and talked. Because of Nick’s injury, we couldn’t do a lot of fooling around, but we’d still enjoyed each other’s company.

“I really thought Nick wanted somebody rich who could throw money at him, but I’ve learned money doesn’t matter to him. What he wants is attention. And you’re right. Nick needs authority. I discovered that early on. I also discovered I like giving it to him.”

Blaze smiled wickedly. “I’m sure you do.”

I barked out a laugh and looked at my watch. “We going to eat something substantial before getting back to work? I can’t slave away for you on a beer and a handful of chips.”

Blaze snorted and pushed his chair back from the table. “I’ll make us a couple of giant sandwiches.”